Sunday's letters

Sunday

Aug 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Abolish school grading

The fact that Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett is even accused of adjusting a school's grade when he was in Indiana is just another example of why the practice of grading schools should be abolished.

It is not the first time that administrators and/or teachers have been accused of inflating test scores, and it will not be the last time if we stay the course.

Education is not a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter process. Students have individual learning styles that are being ignored.

Not all students learn at the same pace. Yet, all students are being given the same standardized tests, regardless of the fact that many students lack similar life experiences, have disabilities or cannot even speak English. Yet, they are all expected to pass! Too much time is being spent on test preparation at the expense of learning!

Helene Levin

Lakewood Ranch

A new housing bubble?

I saw this coming when investors started gobbling up foreclosed properties, looking to hold onto them for a few years and then sell: Blackstone is now looking to package 1,500 of its 30,000 property holdings. The collateral can evaporate in months, putting the properties underwater.

Meanwhile, Blackstone doubles its money, gets the initial investment back and moves on while bond holders lose big time. This is the start of a new housing bubble.

Allan Stonehouse

Englewood

Cuts limit dialysis care

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed cutting Medicare payments for dialysis by 12 percent. Our dialysis center, DSI-Sarasota, cares for over 180 kidney dialysis patients, many of whom rely on Medicare for their treatment.

As a dialysis clinic manager and kidney dialysis patient advocate for more than 25 years, I am fearful that if these cuts are enacted they will lead to restricted care and clinic closures resulting in patients' losing their access to care.

Kidney disease affects one in seven Americans and is the eighth-leading cause of death our country. Dialysis is a survival lifeline, without it our patients will die. Dialysis patients require treatment three times per week for approximately four hours each treatment.

Fiscal challenges require doing more with fewer resources. Two years ago we adopted a payment plan that required belt-tightening, but the dialysis industry kept our service quality high and clinic network substantially intact. This progress is threatened by this new round of proposed cuts.

More than 80 percent of dialysis patients depend on Medicare for their treatment coverage. In few places in our health care system is more care provided for a single fee (three- to four-hour treatment, nursing care, related drugs, lab services, physician oversight, dietician coverage, social workers access and more). By CMS' own admission, Medicare barely covers the cost of complex dialysis care now, and new cuts would be devastating. Congress must protect people with kidney failure.

Candace Magiera

Sarasota

Why Obamacare works

After about 40 attempts to vote down Obamacare in the House, right-wing Republicans are enlisting the help of equally misguided supporters in spreading untruths about the program.

When the major benefits take effect next year, more and more people will join as they realize the benefits of the law. The writer quoted a premium of $350 a month. Maryland on Tuesday said a male, nonsmoking 21-year-old could get insurance for $91 a month under Obamacare.

Before Medicare, about 50 percent of seniors lived without health insurance. Ask retirees now what they think of Medicare.

The letter writer's weak attempt at dissuading healthy people from getting health insurance is preposterous. It indicates the level to which Republicans are willing to sink to continue to spread lies about Obamacare.

I wonder exactly when a 35-year-old woman with breast cancer will decide to stop paying health insurance premiums for a while and pay a penalty instead. Health insurance for everyone is a noble idea. And great public policy.

Jorge Sanchez

Sarasota

We needed bank series

Great job on the "Breaking the Banks" series. You have provided what our area, state, and nation have been lacking: real investigative reporting on the crash of our banking system.

Paul Beyers

Bradenton

Visit Ringling grave site

I appreciated reading the interesting story by Jeff LaHurd on John Ringling in last Monday's paper. The final years of John Ringling's life were indeed a sad end to an otherwise sensational life and career. One of John's enduring legacies is The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which he founded in 1930 and, as stewards of this legacy, we celebrate John and Mable's life every day.

As Mr. LaHurd mentioned at the conclusion of his article, John and Mable, and John's sister Ida, are buried on the Ringling grounds. Unfortunately, the article suggests the grave site is hidden and neglected. It may once have been so, but today the site next to Mable's secret garden near Ca'd'Zan is open to the public, beautifully landscaped, and decorated with John's sculpture. I would like to invite your readers to visit The Ringling to tour the legacy that John bequeathed the citizens of Florida, and while visiting our museums, grounds, and historic home, pay homage to the Ringlings' legacy by visiting their final resting place.

Steven High, Executive Director, John & Mable Ringling

Museum of Art

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.